Discharge apparatus for coal and ore bins



(No Model.)

A. A. STROM.

DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR GOAL AND ORE BINS. N0. 424,938. Patented Apr. 1,1890.

Bf Z) i/fiI-i N. PETERS. Phowumo n nur, Waihinglon, D. c

UNITED STATES- PATENT ()FFICE.

AXEL A. STROM, OF AUSTIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE STROM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR COAL AND ORE BINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,938, dated April 1, 1890.

Application filed December 7, 1889. Serial No.332,9l8. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, AXEL A. STROM, a citizen of the United States,.residing at Austin, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Discharge Apparatus for Coal and Ore Bins, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of apparatus employed at coal, ore, and other docks involving a pivotal counterbalanced chute or spout at the discharge-opening of the bin and hoistin g mechanism through the medium of which to raise and lower the chute.

The object of my present improvement is to provide an effective and simple construction of counter-balance for the chute which shall operate to increase and decrease its resistance to the chute, respectively, in proportion to the increase of the resistance of the latter in descending and to the decrease thereof in the ascent of the chute.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a broken view, in sectional side elevation, of a coal or an ore dock provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a broken view of the upper portion of the dock in front elevation, and Fig. 8 a sectional View showing the details afforded by my improvement in elevation and enlarged over the representation thereof in Fig. 1.

A is the frame-work of the dock supporting the bin B, provided at its discharge-opening, as usual, with the pivotal chute or spout C and surmounted by suitable hoisting mechanism D, which, though I do not limit my im provement to use with any particular construction thereof, may involve the common means illustrated, and forming, so far as I am at present aware, the best means for the purpose, comprising a rotary shaft 0", supported above the bin in a frame q and carrying a drum 1), connectedby a cable at, or analogous means, with the chute toward its outer or free end, and beyond the frame a smaller drum 0, and the shaft r is shown to be provided with a winch 0" (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1) for turning it.

To the drum 0 is secured one end of a cable E, or the like, (as a chain or rope,) in a manner to cause it to be wound on the drum by turning the shaft 0" in the direction to unwind the cable at from the drum 1) to lower the chuteO.

Near the base of the dock is supported a tubular vessel F,formed with the two parallel or substantially parallel vertically-disposed branches F and F which may, but need not, be of equal length, and which intercommunicate at their bases through the coupling-section F (shown as formed in three connected parts,) though the particular construction as to details of the vessel F is immaterial, pro vided it have the two vertically disposed branches communicating at or near their bases. The vessel is supported in a position to bring the branch F below the drum 0 to receive a piston G of desired gravity, which may be produced by surmounting or otherwise suitably connecting with it a weight H, which, as a conveniently-provided construction, may involve a box filled to the required extent with sand, ore, or the like. The piston G is supported from the drum 0 by securing it, or, as shown, the weight H surmounting it, to the lower end of the cable E. It will be noticed that as the shaft 0 is turned to raise the chute C by winding the cable n on the drum 1) the weighted piston G is simultaneously lowered in the branch tube F, and that when the chute is lowered the piston is raised therein.

The vessel F is supplied with a liquid I, (water,) which obviously tends to rise to the same height in each branch F and F and sufficient water is provided to produce the normal level in the branch F at or about at a height corresponding with the position of the base of the piston G at its highest elevation or when the chute is down at its lowest or discharging position, wherein it offers the greatest resistance, it being understood that the resistance of the chute decreases with its ascent from the operative inclined position at which it is indicated in Fig. 1 and where its greatest resistance is exerted. The arrangementis such that the resistance of the weighted piston G at its highest position in the branch F, in which it fits so snugly asto prevent any or any material quantity of the liquid I from passing it, will equal or about equal that of the chute at its lowest position. As the chute is raised the weighted piston, the gravity of which in descending is suiticient to force the liquid below it into the branches F and F is lowered, permitting the water gradually to reduce the weight of the piston by increasing the pressure against the bottom of the piston in the branch F by gradually forcing the water to a higher level in the branch F In lowering the chute from its highest to its lowest or discharging position, when its resistance increases, that of the weighted piston likewise increases by its withdrawal, which reduces gradually the sustaining pressure of the water behind it.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a discharge apparatus for coal and ore bins, the combination, with the chute C and its hoist, of a vessel F, having the branches F and F intercominunicating near their bases and containing a liquid I, and a piston G, connected with the chute through the medium of the hoist and fitting the branch F, said piston adapted in rising and descending to surmount the liquid therein andbein g sufficiently heavy to counterbalance or substantially counterbalance the chute in its lowest operative position and to descend with the rising of the chute in the branch F against the pressure therein of liquid and force the liquid to a gradually higher level in the branch F substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

- 2. In a discharge apparatus for coal and ore bins, the combination, with the chute C and its hoist D, comprising a rotary shaft 7', car 

